As those first few seasons numbers suggest, though, Mayo is a player who thrives as a volume shooter; he’s someone who, when counted upon, can find his rhythm through confidence and opportunity. When a shooter has the green light to take shots it can do wonders for their confidence
The result of the trials and tribulations in Memphis might prove to be the cause for Mayo finding the happy medium in his game in Dallas. Going from big-minute rookie to role-playing bench player can be a wake-up call: Mayo surely learned the importance of shot selection throughout his demotion in Memphis.
Despite shooting 7-for-22 for 24 total points in his first two outings, Mayo might have turned a corner mentally in his last two games where he’s gone for 62 points on 22-of-35 shooting from the field. Mayo’s torrid 18-of-27, 66% start from distance will cool down, but Mayo’s attacking mindset and more selective shot selection (resulting from his days in Memphis) could be here to stay. With Dirk Nowitzki nursing a knee injury and the Mavs lacking many other go-to scoring options, it seems that Mayo is the player who will be consistently counted on to fulfill scoring duties on a nightly basis.
When Mayo was selected third in the 2008 NBA Draft, the questions that loomed largest were about the position that he would play. Was he unselfish enough to be a point guard? Was he a good enough shooter to be a shooting guard?
Four seasons later, Mayo seems to have found a situation that will utilize his greatest strength – his size and shooting ability – as preferred weapons of choice.
OJ Mayo has been released to be a scorer first and playmaker second. It’s who he’s always been… It’s just that now he’s in prime position to capitalize.
- New Orleans Hornets rookies Austin Rivers and Anthony Davis will sit out tonight against the 76ers. Davis has been sidelined by a minor concussion since the middle of New Orleans’ second game of the season last Friday night. Rivers has a sprained left index finger and will be out for the first time.”